3
Earth Regions near the equator receive light at 90 o High latitudes receive light at low angles Light energy is more concentrated near the equator. In other words, there is a greater flux per unit area (W/m 2 )

4
Solar energy is concentrated near the equator Image: Netherlands Center for Climate Research

5
Energy Latitude absorbed solar energy

6
Energy Latitude absorbed solar energy Emitted IR energy

7
Energy Latitude absorbed solar energy Emitted IR energy More energy is absorbed near the equator than emitted And more energy is emitted near the poles than is absorbed.

16
Warm air rises Air cools, sinks Rising air is replaced Hadley Circulation Cell LOW HIGH

17
The Earth would have two large Hadley cells, if it did not rotate. --This is exactly what we think occurs on Venus (which rotates very slowly)! Rotation of the Earth leads to the Coriolis Effect This causes winds (and all moving objects) to be deflected: to the right in the Northern Hemisphere to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

18
The Coriolis Effect Based on conservation of angular momentum We experience linear momentum when we are in a car that is traveling fast and then stops suddenly.

19
Planet Earth rotates once per day. Objects near the poles travel slower than those near the equator.

21
Objects near the poles have less angular momentum than those near the equator. When objects move poleward, their angular momentum causes them to go faster than the surrounding air. Conversely, they slow as they move towards the equator.

22
When objects move north or south, their angular momentum causes them to appear to go slower or faster. This is why traveling objects (or air parcels) deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.